Visible record system



June24, 1941,. M B, H'ALL 2,246,584

VISIBLE RECORD SYSTEM Filed Feb. '26, 1940 f5 i 57j' Z0 1636749 f2 /20 5 4l/5 f4 2f l Patented .inne 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFHCE VISKBLE RECORD SYS TEM Marchand B. Hall, Chicago, Iil., assigner to Acme Visible Records, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware l2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in visible record systems, and particularly to the type wherein means are provided whereby one or a plurality of record cards, mounted upon hangers, and disposed in spaced overlapping relationship upon a suitable support or tray, may be displaced or offset laterally either to the right or left with respectto the neutral or normal position of the remaining cards upon the tray or support, and may be positively maintained in normal position or in displaced position in either direction.

Lateral displacement and positioning means in combination with visible record systems as herein contemplated nd use as either temporary,

permanent or periodically variable identification, classification, follow-np, or like signalling aids, as for example, in the classification of postings, credit ratings, payment or collection followups, purchase and order reminders, and the like. A device adapted for like use is set forth in United States Patent No. 1,993,510 to Edward C. Gast, Jr.

The lateral oiiset and positioning means of the present invention is adapted for use in combination with conventional visible index frames or supports utilized as trays or drawers of record cabinets, leafs of record books, units of the usual swingably mounted record or index stands, and the like, without modification thereof. Likewise the card hanger means, as hereinafter more fully described, are interchangeable with conventional card hangers not provided with lateral card displacement means, and if desired, a single frame or tray may contain both classes of card hangers at one time.

As a further feature of this invention, the card hangers are adapted to be mounted in fixed position on the tray or holder and retained by the conventional flanges thereof, so that no friction impediment is set up between the lateral displacement means of adjacent supported cards, tendencies of the hangers to buckle, shift, co1 lapse or to become displaced in the holder are prevented and eliminated, and as a result freedom of lateral movement and positioning of the cards without interference from or contact with adjacent hangers is maintained at all times, and a more perfect operative means provided than has heretofore been known in similar devices.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention relating to the utility thereof, its economies, and arrangement of parts will be apparent from a consideration of the following speciiication and drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view illustrating a fragmentary portion of a record or index unit embodying my improved offset hanger device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the ofiset positioning member of my device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the two interengaged portions of my oiiset hanger device.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

In general my improved offset hanger device comprises two members, one of which is substantially in the form of a conventional card hanger well known in the art comprising a ilexible wire formed with return-bent end portions adapted for insertion by iiexing or springing beneath the flanges or the tray or holder, the return-bent portion terminating in offset ends adapted to engage hinges attached to record cards. These hangers are modified by a double offset intermediate their length and thereby adapted to interengage and become operatively associated with the second or positioning member. This second member may likewise be in the form of a wire or fiat flexible metal strip having upstanding end ear portions slidably positioned on the terminal ends of the hanger and of a length to straddle the card hinges. The positioning member is formed intermediate its length with a plurality of crimps adapted to yieldably engage the intermediate offset of the hanger and whereby lateral shifting of a mounted card will cause lateral movement of the positioning member to engage one of its crimps with the intermediate hanger oiiset and x the record card in one of a predetermined number of positions, all without shifting or movement of the hanger portion in its mount.

Referring to the drawing, lil indicates a conventional card holder frame provided with channels ll for receiving the wire hangers l2. The hangers I2 are formed with return-bent ends I3 and as indicated, are generally provided with parallel oset terminals I 4 for receiving hinges it engaged to record cards I6 in the conventional manner, However, as modified in accordance with this invention, the hangers l2 are formed intermediate their length with a double oiiset to form a substantially U-shaped portion il comprising legs i8 and I9, the whole lying substantially in the same plane formed by the return bends i3 with the body l2 of the hanger. Thus when the hanger l2 is sprung or iiexed and positioned within the channels Il, the U-portion ll lies substantially in the plane of the holder l0.

The card oiTset member, generally designated as 2li may be formed of wire similar to hanger i2, or preferably of a iiat ilexible metal strip as shown, the opposed ends terminating in the upstanding perforated ears 2i, which it is understood may be in the form of loops if the portion 2E) is formed or wire. Intermediate its length the card offsetting member 2d is formed with a plurality of positioning crimps extending upwardly at an angle from the face of the plane determined by the hanger return bend portions i3, the drawing illustrating three crimps 22, 23, and 2li for positioning an engaged card i6, in left-offset, neutral and right-offset positions respectively, although it will be evident that additional positions by means of like additional crimps may be provided.

In operatively associating the hanger member l2 and offsetting member 2G, they are interengaged or entwined, that is, the member 2@ is rst engaged by an ear 2l to a hanger terminal lli with the recesses of the crimps 22, 23, 2G, opening downwardly and overlying the leg I8, the strip 20 being thereafter caused to underlie the leg i9 after which the second ear 2i is engaged to the second hanger terminal I4. In this position the oisetting member 2&3 may be moved laterally and the crimps 22, 23, 2li, caused to yieldably engage the leg i8, the intermediate crimp 23, being formed at a point whereat engagement thereof will cause a card l to be set in neutral position and engagement of crimps 22 and 2li will set the card in left offset and right oiTset positions respectively. It will be evident that due to the intertwined engagement of members i2 and 2o, the base of the double offset or U will prevent disengagement of the members in one direction, and to prevent disengagement in the opposed direction, an additional crimp 25 is provided spaced apart from crimp 2li a suiicient distance to permit cooperation of all of the crimps .'22, 23, 2d, with leg I8, and outwardly of U bend. The length of the offsetting member 2! and correspondingly the free lengths of the hanger ends ifi, is such as to permit sliding engagement for a distance at least equal to that from the intermediate crimp 23 to either crimp 22 or crimp 2li, or greater if there are more crimps for additional positions and the length of the base of the double offset or U Il is substantially equivalent to the length of that portion of strip 2i! comprehended by all of the positioning crimps. The hinges l5 are engaged to cards ES in pairs spaced apart so that they are straddled or embraced in abutting engagement by the ears 2| of the offsetting member 2Q.

The operative intertwining engagement of the members l2 and 2@ provides a spring tension on the positioning crimps 22 23, 24 eiecting the ease of operation, rigidity oi positioning and prevention of accidental or unintentional displacement, and which is substantially independent of the length of hanger member I2. It will be noted, particularly from Fig. 3, that member 20 is offset between adjacent crimps 22, 23, 2li and 25, and by this means the aforesaid tension may be regulated by increasing or decreasing the elevation or degree of this offset. Likewise the tension on the positioning crimps may be varied by increasing or decreasing, within operative limits, the length of the base li or the spacing of the legs I8 and I9 of the U formation on the hanger member I2.

Thus in operation it is merely necessary to interengagethe members l2 and 2O as hereinbefore described and position the hanger in the tray or holder by the conventional springing or flexing action, after which it remains positioned in the frame in fixed position. A record card provided with hinges in properly spaced apart engagement is then placed on the hanger ends i2 so as to have the hinges in abutment with the ears 2|. Thereafter it is only necessary to grasp the card and move it laterally which causes the hinges to ride on the ends ld and the offset member 29 to move with it and the crimps 22, 23, 24 into and out of engagement with the leg i8, and by reason of the flexibility of the member 2t and its interengagement with member l2, positioning and repositioning of the record card may be carried out positively and with ease, and at the same time tendency toward accidental or unintentional displacement of the positioned cards or hangers is substantially eliminated.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame having guide channels of detachable iiexible wire hangers fixedly positioned therein against movement lateraliy of the frame, cards mounted by hinge means on said hangers and movable laterally to an offset position, and an offsetting member operatively associated with and slidably mounted on each of the said hangers in straddling engagement with the hinges of the mounted card.

2. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame having guide channels of detachable flexible wire hangers xedly positioned therein against movement laterally of the frame, cards mounted by hinge means on said hangers and movable laterally to an olset position, and an oisetting member operatively associated with and sli-dably mounted on each of the said hangers in straddling engagement with the hinges of the mounted card, the said offsetting members each comprising a exible strip formed intermediate its length with means adapted for yieldable Variable engagement with engageable means formed on a corresponding one oi said hangers.

3. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame having guide channels of detachable flexible wire hangers fixedly positioned therein against movement laterally of the frame, cards mounted by hinge means on said hangers and movable laterally to an offset position, and

an offsetting member operatively associated with and slidably mounted on each of the said hangers in straddling engagement with the hinges of the mounted card, the said cards and associated offsetting members being laterally displaceable with respect to said hangers and said frame, and cooperable means formed on each hanger and each offsetting member for retaining the offsetting. member and embraced card in normal or displaced position.

4. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame having guide channels of detachable flexible wire hangers fixedly positioned therein against movement laterally of the frame, cards mount-od by hinge means on return bent end portions of said hangers and movable laterally thereon to oiiset position, and a flexible offset positioning member carried by each oi said hangers on said ends thereof and movable longitudinally with respect thereto and in straddling engagement with a pair of card hinges, the said offsetting member being formed with a plurality ofcrimps intermediate the length thereof and operatively associated with a hanger by being extended through a U bend formed cn` 'said hanger intermediate its length, the said U bend lying substantially in a plane formed by said return bent hanger end portions, the said crimps being in overlying engagement with one of the legs of said U bend and yieldably engageable therewith to retain said offsetting member and embraced card in desired lateral position on said frame.

5. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame having guide channels of detachable flexible wire hangers xedly positioned therein against movement laterally of the frame, cards mounted by hinge means on return bent end portions of said hangers and movable laterally thereon to offset position, and a flexible offset positioning member carried by each of said hangers on said ends thereof and movable longitudinally with respect thereto and in straddling engagement with a pair of card hinges, the said offsetting member being formed with a plurality of positioning crimps intermediate the length thereof and said hanger being formed with a double offset intermediate its length, the said offsetting member lying over one of said offsets and under the other, the said crimps being engageable with the former offset to retain said offsetting member and embraced hinge mounted card in normal or desired laterally displaced position.

6. In a visible card system, the combination with a frame having guide channels of detachable flexible wire hangers flxedly positioned therein against movement laterally of the frame, cards mounted by hinge means on return bent end portions of said hangers and movable laterally thereon to offset position, and a flexible offset positioning member carried by each of said hangers on said ends thereof and movable longitudinally with respect thereto and in straddling engagement with a pair of card hinges, the said offsetting member being formed with a plurality of positioning crimps intermediate the length thereof and said hanger being formed with a double offset intermediate its length, the said offsetting member lying over one of said offsets and under the other, the said crimps being engageable with the former offset to retain said offsetting member and embraced hinge mounted card in normal or desired laterally displaced position, the said offsetting member being formed with a locking crimp spaced from said positioning crimps for maintaining said members in operatively associated position.

7. An offset mounting device of the class described comprising a flexible wire hanger member adapted to be detachably mounted and xedly positioned on a holder frame therefor against movement laterally of the frame, and a iiexible offsetting strip member operatively associated therewith and movable longitudinally thereof, the said offsetting member being formed With upstanding ends and adapted to straddle opposed hinges of hinge mounted record cards and being movable with respect to said hanger by manual 'lateral movement of said cards, the said offsetting member being formed intermediate its length with means yieldably associable with engageable means formed on said hanger.

8. An offset mounting device of the class described comprising a flexible wire hanger member adapted to be detachably mounted and xedly positioned on a holder frame therefor against movement laterally of the frame, and a flexible offsetting strip member operatively associated therewith and movable longitudinally thereof, the said offsetting member being formed with upstanding ends and adapted to straddle opposed hinges of hinge mounted record cards and being movable with respect to said hanger by manual lateral movement of said cards, the said offsettingmember being formed intermediate its length with a plurality of crimps yieldably engageable with an offset formed on said hanger member to retain said offsetting member in desired longitudinal relationship with said hanger member.

9. An offset mounting device of the class described comprising a flexible Wire hanger member adapted to be detachably mounted and xedly positioned on a holder frame therefor against movement laterally of the frame, and a flexible offsetting strip member operatively associated therewith and movable longitudinally thereof, the said offsetting member being formed with upstanding ends and adapted to straddle opposed hinges of hinge mounted record cards and being movable with respect to said hanger by manual lateral movement of said cards, the said hanger member being formed with a U bend intermediate its length and said offsetting member being extended through said U bend and formed with a plurality of crimps overlying and engageable with one of the legs of said U bend to retain said offsetting member in desired lateral position on said hanger member.

10. An offset mounting device of the class described comprising a flexible wire hanger member adapted to be detachably mounted and xedly positioned on a holder frame therefor against movement laterally of the frame, and a flexible offsetting strip member operatively associated therewith and movable longitudinally thereof, the said offsetting member being formed with upstanding ends and adapted to straddle opposed hinges of hinge mounted record cards and being movable with respect to said hanger by manual lateral movement of said cards, the said hanger member being formed with a double offset intermediate its length and said offsetting member lying over one of said offsets and exi tending under the'other offset and being formed with a plurality of positioning crimps engageable with the former offset to retain the said members in desired longitudinally associated relationship, and an auxiliary crimp on said offsetting member for retaining it in associated relationship with said hanger member.

11. A device of the class described comprising a fiexible wire record card hanger formed with a planar U bend intermediate its length and a flexible metallic strip offsetting member ri-dably mounted on said hanger and flexed through the said bend thereof and formed thereat with a plurality of positioning crimps engageable with a leg of said U bend lying thereunder to position said offsetting member in desired longitudinal relationship with said hanger.

l2. A device of the class described comprising a flexible wire hanger member and a flexible metallic strip offsetting member ridably mounted thereon, the said offsetting member comprising means intermediate its length for yieldably and variably engaging engagement means on said hanger member, the said members being intertwined and operatively associated by tensioning means.

MARCHAND B. HALL. 

